The Central government has written to the Mehbooba Mufti-led Jammu and Kashmir government to stop advertising in local dailies that publish “anti-national articles,” Hindustan Times reported on Saturday, 4 November.
The letter, dated 18 October, written by the Ministry of Home Affairs, tells the state government to “strictly” deal with newspapers that are publishing “highly-radicalised content glamorising terrorists and anti-national elements.”
“It is understood that some newspapers in J&K are publishing highly radicalised content glamorising terrorists and anti-national elements. This is against the Constitution of India as well as the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir,” HT quoted the letter as saying.
It adds that “such newspapers” should not be given patronage by the state government and that this should be “circulated to all those concerned for strict compliance.”
It was only a few days after this letter was sent that the Centre announced that former Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma would be its special representative to Jammu and Kashmir to start a dialogue.
According to Shujaat Bukhari, editor of Rising Kashmir newspaper, the contents of this letter are out of “sync” with the Modi-led government’s efforts to “start a dialogue” in the state. “The government has expressed concerns over our coverage of militant funerals. National newspapers do the same. So why are local papers being singled out?” Bukhari told HT.
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